NFPA 1581 PDF

Help control the spread of infections to and among fire service and EMS personnel with NFPA 1581, Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program.

Firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can be exposed to a wide array of airborne and blood-borne infectious diseases in their work with the public. The updated edition of NFPA 1581, Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program, contains requirements for an infection control program that can help reduce or eliminate potential exposures and provide treatment for personnel who need it.

The majority of responses in fire departments are EMS-related. The need for an infection control policy and program is integral for personnel operating in this environment, as members can come into contact with potentially infectious illnesses in their work with the public. Fire departments that do not provide emergency medical services should also have proactive infection control programs, as they still interact with the public through domestic violence situations, hazardous materials releases, and routine structural fires. In all of these circumstances, the potential for infection still exists.

NFPA 1581, Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program, applies to organizations providing rescue, fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials mitigation, special operations, and other emergency services, including public, military, private, and industrial fire departments. The standard does not apply to industrial fire brigades.